CBSE Class 10 English Two Stories about Flying Important Questions Set 04

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. Have you ever been alone, or away from home during a thunderstorm or something like that? Narrate your experience in the form of a paragraph. What helped you in that situation?
Answer: Yes, once I was alone and away from home during a thunderstorm.
In fact, I was on an educational excursion in Himachal Pradesh. We were a group of ten students. On that particular day, I was having fever and stayed locked in my tent in the base camp. All of my friends had gone to the city for shopping. Suddenly, I noticed a huge black cloud in one corner of the valley. It grew dark and started raining. It was followed by thunderstorm. I was all alone. It was really scary. I got into my tent but soon it was blown over by the wind. I was in the open. I ran towards a guest house. One of the persons in the guest house had already seen me. He ran towards me and rescued me.

Question 2. ‘Fear doesn’t exist anywhere else other than one’s mind.’ Validate the given statement with reference to the fear faced by the pilot in ‘The Black Aeroplane’. Did Valli in ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ have similar feelings before and during her journey? How did both these characters overcome their fears and come out victorious?
Answer: The pilot in the story ‘The Black Aeroplane’ had a frightening experience on a stormy night. He got stuck in dark storm clouds and his instruments failed. His contact with the Paris control room snapped. There was hardly any fuel left. Then suddenly he saw another aeroplane with no lights on its wings, and the pilot of that plane signalled to him to follow by waving his hand. He followed it and landed safely, only to learn that there had been no other plane in the sky. It seems that his inner voice guided him to land safely and pushed him to overcome his fear of death.
Being aware that she was travelling alone for the first time, Valli took every precaution not to be fooled by anybody. She posed as very confident in front of the conductor when he offered to help her into the bus. She tried to cover up her nervousness carefully. When everybody laughed at her, she felt shy. However, she soon became comfortable and enjoyed her ride. Valli, a young girl of eight, overcame her fears and learned self-confidence.

Question 3. Fear and lack of confidence stop one from achieving one’s goals and hamper one’s life. Both the seagull in ‘His First Flight’ and the black people of South Africa in ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ initially suffered from this. Do you agree? How did they overcome these two traits? How did this help them finally achieve their goals?
Answer: Yes, it is true that fear and lack of confidence not only stop us from learning new things but seriously hamper our lives. The young seagull lacked courage and confidence. He was the last member of his family to learn to fly. He was too scared even to make an attempt. His parents and siblings encouraged him constantly. When that did not work, they scolded him for his cowardice. Finally, the mother seagull tempted him with a piece of fish. He dived, opened his wings and began to fly.
Millions of common black people sacrificed for a life of dignity for their people and the future of their children. Fear, oppression and even death did not deter them. Their initial lack of confidence and fear vanished under the able leadership of Mandela. He learned the meaning of courage when he saw the cruel behaviour of the whites towards blacks. He knew he had to show strength to bring freedom to each one of them. The more they were oppressed, the stronger they grew. They were pushed to their limits but kept going. Eventually, the apartheid regime was removed and the blacks attained victory.

Question 4. Do you think hunger is the best motivator for almost all achievements—be it hunger for fame or for money or for success or for your rights? Did hunger also propel the young seagull in his first flight? Were Nelson Mandela and his black compatriots driven by hunger too? Analyse with reference to ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ and ‘His First Flight’.
Answer: The young seagull was not a coward, just unsure and fearful. All the efforts of his parents had failed to coax him into flight. His mother, apparently callously, withheld food until he was almost faint with hunger. Finally, when she flew near him with a piece of fish and stopped just short of him, maddened by hunger he dived at the fish. To save himself, he opened his wings, the wind rushed under them and he discovered that he could fly.
Similarly, the hunger for freedom, equality and justice has made many people fight tooth and nail for a better life in many countries. The desire for the freedom of his people animated Nelson Mandela’s whole life. He was transformed from a frightened young man into a bold leader. He began to hunger for freedom when it was denied to him, and he wanted his people also to be free.
Inspired by great leaders like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli and Yusuf Dadoo, the common blacks were driven to sacrifice even their lives for a better tomorrow.
We can definitely say that hunger is the best motivator for almost all achievements—be it hunger for fame, for money, for success or for one’s rights.

Question 5. The parents of the young seagull tried so hard to persuade him to fly. But he couldn’t muster up the courage to take the plunge from the ledge in the story ‘His First Flight’. Imagine yourself as the narrator of the story. Based on your understanding of the situation between the young seagull and his mother, develop a conversation between them.
Answer: Mother Seagull: You are a brave little child! I know you can do it. Spread your wings and take the plunge.
Young Seagull: No! I can’t, Mom. As soon as I look at the deep sea down below, my wings and legs shiver. If I take the plunge, I know my wings won’t hold me. They are weak.
Mother Seagull: Dear child, look at your brothers and sister. They were also unsure and scared at first, but they tried hard and now they can fly quite well.
Young Seagull: I am trying my best, Mom, but I don’t think I can ever fly.
Mother Seagull: I can clearly see that you are in no mood to try. If that’s the case, I will not persuade you further. And yes, you will get no food from any of us. If you want to eat, you need to dive and catch a fish for yourself!

Question 6. A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges and interactions with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of the seagull with reference to the story, in about 120 words.
Answer: In the beginning, the young seagull comes across as a fearful and hesitant character, reluctant to fly and full of self-doubt. He remains paralysed by fear, even when his siblings and parents try to encourage him. However, one day, his hunger drives him to beg for food. His mother picks up a piece of fish in her beak and flies towards him. Out of starvation, the young seagull impulsively leaps off the ledge, discovering his ability to fly. With each moment in the air, he gains confidence and forgets his fear. His character undergoes a dramatic transformation from a frightened and nervous bird to a bold and skilled one. His first flight becomes the catalyst for self-discovery and the beginning of his growth into a confident seagull.

Question 7. There is a strong message in the story ‘The Black Aeroplane’. How does it influence you? (Diksha)
Answer: The story gives the readers a powerful message that we should not lose hope despite the challenges that life throws at us. In the story, the pilot did not give up even for a second or think that he couldn’t escape the storm. It was his belief that gave him the courage to come out of the storm successfully.

Question 8. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm. (NCERT)
Answer: As the pilot entered the storm, his plane started jumping and twisting. He could not see anything outside the plane as it was all black. When he looked at the compass and other instruments, he realised that they had stopped functioning. It was a terrible and fearsome experience for him. The fuel tank was almost empty and he could not fly for more than ten minutes. Then he saw another black aeroplane beside him and its pilot signalled him to follow. It was a surprise for the narrator as the black plane had no lights. He followed it without any other choice and landed safely on the runway.

Question 9. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly? (NCERT)
Answer: The young seagull was very hungry. It was this hunger that ultimately compelled him to fly. His hunger intensified when he saw his mother tearing at a piece of fish that lay at her feet. He cried to her, begging her to bring him some food. When his mother came towards him with food in her beak, he screamed with joy and anticipation. However, when she stopped midway, he wondered why she did not come nearer. Unable to control his hunger any longer, he dived at the food in his mother’s beak. At that moment, his hunger overpowered his fear of the great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. This plunge was followed by the natural reaction of his body, that is, to fly.

Question 10. You have been asked to present an evaluation of the approaches of both the baby seagull and the pilot who was lost in the clouds, towards achieving their dreams of conquering the skies. Write this presentation draft including your insights, comparing the approaches of both.
You may begin this way: One acknowledges that both the Seagull and the Pilot wanted to ......, however, ...... (CBSE 2024)
Answer: One acknowledges that both the Seagull and the Pilot wanted to conquer the skies, however, their approaches were quite different. Hunger and survival were the baby seagull’s primary motivators to overcome fear and take his first flight. The seagull was desperate for food, so he had to take a risk despite his initial hesitation and fear. On the other hand, the pilot faced a different challenge in the form of a storm and realised that he had got lost. He decided to put his trust in a mysterious black aeroplane and follow it like a child. We can learn courage and tenacity from both stories. The pilot took a leap of faith to follow the unknown black aeroplane in the face of difficulty, whereas the seagull flew out of instinctual need.

Question 11. You have been chosen to address a student gathering from the neighbourhood schools, to speak on the theme of transformation and movement. Prepare the speech draft in not more than 120 words, with reference to the theme in ‘Two Stories about Flying’.
You may begin this way: Good morning, everyone. Today, I’d like to discuss ......
You may end this way: To conclude, I’d like to say that ... Thank you.
Answer: Good morning, everyone. Today, I’d like to discuss how movement brings transformation, with reference to ‘Two Stories about Flying’.
In ‘His First Flight’, the young seagull is frozen on the ledge by fear. The moment he dives at the fish in his mother’s beak, he discovers that his wings can carry him. One movement transforms a frightened chick into a confident flier.
In ‘The Black Aeroplane’, the pilot keeps moving forward through the storm. Lost and short of fuel, he follows the mysterious aeroplane and lands safely, returning a wiser man.
To conclude, I’d like to say that we grow only when we step out of our comfort zones and keep moving despite fear.
Thank you.

Question 12. The young seagull’s parents wanted him to fly like his brothers and sister. How could the young seagull’s newly flying siblings (two brothers and a sister) have motivated him? Create a brief conversation among them.
Answer: Elder Brother: Come on, little brother! The sky is wonderful. You must try it.
Young Seagull: I can’t. The sea is so far below. My wings will never hold me.
Sister: I felt exactly the same yesterday. My heart was beating fast, but the moment I jumped, my wings opened by themselves.
Second Brother: And look at the fish we can catch now! You won’t have to wait for anyone to feed you.
Young Seagull: But what if I fall?
Elder Brother: We will fly right beside you. Just spread your wings and trust them.
Sister: We believe in you. Tomorrow we will all race over the waves together!
Young Seagull: All right, I will try. I don’t want to stay alone on this ledge any more.

Question 13. What did the pilot of the Dakota encounter 150 kilometres away from Paris? Recount his experience inside the black clouds. (CBSE Delhi 2012)
Answer: The pilot of the Dakota aeroplane was on his way to England. Paris was one hundred and fifty kilometres behind him when the pilot found himself flying straight towards gigantic storm clouds. He knew he couldn’t fly up and over the clouds, and he did not have enough fuel to fly around them, so there was no way those terrible storm clouds could be avoided. Since he was desperate to reach home by breakfast, the pilot decided to fly his old Dakota into the storm.
Flying inside the dark clouds was not an easy task. Everything was dark and nothing was visible outside the plane. The radio and the compass stopped working as well. Soon, the pilot realised that he had lost his way, and his means of communication were dead.
At that moment, the pilot saw another plane flying next to his through the storm. The other aeroplane had no lights on its wings, and although nothing else was visible, the black aeroplane and its pilot were visible. He waved at the pilot of the Dakota and signalled him to follow. Trusting the pilot of the black aeroplane, the Dakota pilot followed him and soon came out of the clouds. He saw the runway lights and was able to make a safe landing. The strange black plane disappeared as mysteriously as it had arrived. The pilot of the old Dakota was even more surprised to learn that his was the only plane which was spotted on the radar that night.

Question 14. What do you learn from the story of the young seagull?
Answer: The story of the young seagull is a very good example showing how fear can hold you prisoner. The seagull is a bird. It is meant to fly. Without flying, it cannot survive. But the young seagull is so scared that it doesn’t want to fly.
The same thing happens with humans also. Fear cripples one’s mind. We cannot live up to our full potential if we are caught in the shackles of our fear. One should aim to be free from fear. If one wants to achieve success in life, one has to fight one’s demons.

Question 15. Why did the pilot want to thank the pilot of the black plane after his safe landing? What values are reflected in his action?
Answer: When the pilot of the Dakota was caught in a storm, he spotted a black plane flying next to him. The pilot of this plane asked him to follow him. So he followed the black plane, which brought his plane out of the storm and helped him to spot the runway lights of the airport.
He wanted to thank the pilot of the black plane, and this shows his gratitude. He was thankful to him for saving his life. It shows that the pilot of the Dakota had the value of gratefulness in his character.

Question 16. Justify the title of the story ‘His First Flight’.
Answer: The story ‘His First Flight’ is about a young seagull who is reluctant to take his first flight off a ledge. His sister and brothers have all learnt to fly the previous day, but he is scared to take the first step off the ledge. His parents try everything to make him take the plunge, but all in vain. Then his mother uses his hunger and gets him to take off the ledge. His first flight is thrilling for him and his family rejoices with him. The story is about the young seagull’s first flight and so the title is justified.

Question 17. Why and when did the narrator say that ‘everything was going well, it was an easy flight’? (Black Aeroplane)
Answer: This excerpt is from the short story “Black Aeroplane”. The story is about a pilot who got lost in a dark cloud during his flight from Paris to London and was guided by a strange airplane that had appeared in the middle of that cloud. The flight of old Dakota started in Paris and headed towards England. It was an easy flight, the sky was clear and the weather was fine. When it reached 150 km away from Paris, it suddenly confronted huge black storm clouds. It only had limited fuel to take him to England. He could go back to Paris but he decided to take the risk and go through the storm clouds because he wanted to spend the holiday with his family.

Question 18. Do you agree that the story ‘Black Aeroplane’ is a mystery? Justify.
Answer: A mystery is something about which we don’t know anything. There is some information or event or thing that is unexplained. A mystery raises more questions than answering them. The story ‘The Black Aeroplane’ is a mystery because by the end of the story there are more questions about the pilot of the black aeroplane, where did the plane go after helping the narrator, and so on. Apart from the narrator, no one else had seen the plane and even in the thick of a storm the plane just disappeared without a trace. Therefore, the story about the black aeroplane is a mystery.